Complete story — includes the ending
As the Genoshan crisis draws international attention, reporter Manoli Wetherell confirms that the captured mutants belong to X-Factor and the X-Men, both presumed dead since the events in Dallas. While opinions on Genosha's actions differ, She-Hulk reveals that her offer to represent the prisoners was rejected because she was unfamiliar with Genoshan law.
The following day, the captured mutants are brought before a Genoshan court, with Forge still unconscious to prevent Cameron Hodge from exploiting his technological knowledge. When Wolverine sees Storm, now reduced to the mindless mutate designated as number 20, he attacks the guards but is easily subdued by her wind powers. Chief Magistrate Tam Anderson offers the prisoners a choice between execution and submitting to the mutate-bonding process. Jean Grey rejects the offer on everyone's behalf, and the court declares them guilty and delivers them to Hodge.
The mechanical monster chains his captives inside a circular chamber, displaying the mutilated Forge as a warning. When Cable and Gambit attempt to resist, Hodge threatens Psylocke, forcing Cable to surrender, then damages his techno-organic arm and eye. Gambit is wounded while protecting Cable. Horrified by the cruelty, Psylocke pretends to accept the bonding process, and Magistrate Havok intervenes to take her to the Genegineer.
Hodge subsequently forces Archangel and Wolverine to fight each other inside the Box, enjoying their brutal confrontation. Meanwhile, Rictor, Boom-Boom, and Jubilee, the only X-Men still free, disguise themselves and discover Genegineer David Moreau ordering a mutate to tunnel beneath the citadel. Moreau then contacts Anderson, revealing that the two are secretly plotting together.
Escorted through the citadel, Psylocke exploits her martial-arts skills to defeat her guards and escapes through a ventilation duct. Elsewhere, Hodge impersonates Moreau to lure Wipeout into the laboratory, where he discovers evidence of the Genegineer's conspiracy before murdering the mutate. Havok arrives after receiving a falsified message, but Wolfsbane accuses him of the killing, and the Magistrates arrest him.
With Hodge gone, Cyclops explains that Psylocke's surrender was part of their plan. Gambit uses a projectile he deliberately took during the earlier confrontation to pick his restraints, freeing the others. They head for the Box and manage to stop the exhausted Archangel and Wolverine from fighting.
Meanwhile, Hodge confronts Anderson and the Magistrates, accusing them of treason. As he overwhelms the officers, Psylocke opens fire from a ventilation shaft, allowing Anderson to escape with Storm. Anderson claims to know how to restore the mutants' powers, and Psylocke reluctantly accompanies her.
When Anderson and Storm reach the Box, Storm attacks Cyclops with a lightning bolt. The blinding flash subsides to reveal that Ororo has regained her adult body and original personality, while Scott has recovered his optic blasts. As Hodge arrives and threatens the assembled mutants, Cyclops immediately fires an optic beam at him, confirming that Storm's transformation has also restored his powers.
The following day, the captured mutants are brought before a Genoshan court, with Forge still unconscious to prevent Cameron Hodge from exploiting his technological knowledge. When Wolverine sees Storm, now reduced to the mindless mutate designated as number 20, he attacks the guards but is easily subdued by her wind powers. Chief Magistrate Tam Anderson offers the prisoners a choice between execution and submitting to the mutate-bonding process. Jean Grey rejects the offer on everyone's behalf, and the court declares them guilty and delivers them to Hodge.
The mechanical monster chains his captives inside a circular chamber, displaying the mutilated Forge as a warning. When Cable and Gambit attempt to resist, Hodge threatens Psylocke, forcing Cable to surrender, then damages his techno-organic arm and eye. Gambit is wounded while protecting Cable. Horrified by the cruelty, Psylocke pretends to accept the bonding process, and Magistrate Havok intervenes to take her to the Genegineer.
Hodge subsequently forces Archangel and Wolverine to fight each other inside the Box, enjoying their brutal confrontation. Meanwhile, Rictor, Boom-Boom, and Jubilee, the only X-Men still free, disguise themselves and discover Genegineer David Moreau ordering a mutate to tunnel beneath the citadel. Moreau then contacts Anderson, revealing that the two are secretly plotting together.
Escorted through the citadel, Psylocke exploits her martial-arts skills to defeat her guards and escapes through a ventilation duct. Elsewhere, Hodge impersonates Moreau to lure Wipeout into the laboratory, where he discovers evidence of the Genegineer's conspiracy before murdering the mutate. Havok arrives after receiving a falsified message, but Wolfsbane accuses him of the killing, and the Magistrates arrest him.
With Hodge gone, Cyclops explains that Psylocke's surrender was part of their plan. Gambit uses a projectile he deliberately took during the earlier confrontation to pick his restraints, freeing the others. They head for the Box and manage to stop the exhausted Archangel and Wolverine from fighting.
Meanwhile, Hodge confronts Anderson and the Magistrates, accusing them of treason. As he overwhelms the officers, Psylocke opens fire from a ventilation shaft, allowing Anderson to escape with Storm. Anderson claims to know how to restore the mutants' powers, and Psylocke reluctantly accompanies her.
When Anderson and Storm reach the Box, Storm attacks Cyclops with a lightning bolt. The blinding flash subsides to reveal that Ororo has regained her adult body and original personality, while Scott has recovered his optic blasts. As Hodge arrives and threatens the assembled mutants, Cyclops immediately fires an optic beam at him, confirming that Storm's transformation has also restored his powers.
Sources and content license
Source and revision history ↗ · Adapted from Marvel Database contributors, Uncanny X-Men Vol 1 272. Illustrations and reference markup removed; synopsis paragraphs combined. · Content license